First Love
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…(Revelation
2: 4-5).
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth (Revelation 3: 15-16).
This is a day to give your heart completely to Jesus in an unreserved way. It is not a day to compromise with the flesh or with the popular opinion of the moment!
This is a time of great spiritual danger because of the deception that runs rampant. The itching ears syndrome that Paul mentioned is in full force today. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
The number one thing that Jesus mentions about the days just prior to His return to earth is deception. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. (Matthew 24:3-4). The only way to keep from being ensnared by deception is to have a full heart of love for Jesus above everything else in life!
I had a dream some time ago. In the dream I was at a conference meeting with other believers in a fairly wide yet not deep room. Four women were leading singing including my lovely wife (she has hidden talent!). We were singing the old song with my hands lifted up, and my mouth filled with praise, with a heart of thanksgiving, I will bless you O Lord. In the dream I noticed that some were singing with lifted hands, but many were engaged in conversation with others. They seemed oblivious to the worship that was going on. And then in the dream I thought to myself as I observed those who were not singing, boy we sure don’t have the passion for Jesus that we once had. We need to come back to our first love. End of dream.
This is a day for consecration and dedication to the Father. Much is at stake. Our hunger defines us. Our appetites show who we are. Smith Wigglesworth stated, I’d rather have a man on my platform who is not Spirit-filled but hungry than a man who is Spirit –Filled and satisfied.
Hunger has great drawing power. Hunger can move you. Smith Wigglesworth also mentioned, I’m only satisfied with the dissatisfaction that has to be satisfied over and over again.
Let me also remind you that our appetites and hunger follow what we put our attention on. Perhaps you’ve slackened off on your relationship with the Lord. You read your Bible less often and pray only sporadically. And perhaps church attendance is hit and miss. Has your first love taken a backseat to other things?
You can change today. Repent for stepping away from your first love. Then, make yourself read and pray. Set a time every single day to get alone with God and stick with it. Our desires always follows what we give time and attention. Ask God to create in you a deep hunger for Him that is greater than any other appetite in life. He longs to answer that request!
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).